Kaplan University offers over 180 degree and certificate programs all available to military, veterans, and spouses of active duty members. In addition, several programs have been developed to complement specific military occupations or programs established by the military.

Open College at Kaplan University (OC@KU) offers individualized, affordable education that integrates technology and personalized service to help learners meet their career, academic, and personal goals.

The New Millennium: The Evolving and Emerging Role of a Nurse

Changing health
care in the United States means that nursing roles must evolve to serve a
broader patient base. As the need for
primary care providers swells
due to health care reform, the need for different types of nurses,
especially those with a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree is also expected to increase.

Here’s a look at a
snapshot of the types of nurses with emerging roles in today’s health care
industry.

This is a
great time to follow your dream of becoming a nurse, or to start working to attain a higher degree in the nursing
profession in order to advance in your career.*

Nurses have
come a long way in establishing their knowledge and importance in the medical
field. That reputation is increasing even more with the recent launch of the
Affordable Care Act, as those who have recently qualified for health insurance seek primary care providers.

There are so
many different levels of nursing, and various requirements necessary to reach each
level. It can be confusing, especially
if you’re new to the field or considering a career in nursing.

Following is
a look at the various types of nursing positions, their responsibilities, and
the education that can help you attain them:

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) - Often thought of as a hybrid, the
LPN works under a registered nurse, stepping in and providing care where
needed. While the LPN generally cares for stable patients, in some states, they
can dose medication and provide care for critical patients (ventilator
dependent). Home health care creates a lot of employment opportunities for the
LPN.

Registered Nurse (RN) - To become an RN, an associate’s degree,
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) or an accelerated equivalent must be earned.
An RN doses medication, administers IVs,
tracks patients’ changing statuses, and assists doctors. The role is very hands-on. RNs provide care in hospitals, doctor’s
offices, home health care services and nursing care facilities; work in
correctional facilities and schools; or they serve in the military. The RN can work toward a Master of Science in
Nursing (MSN) to obtain more responsibility and upward mobility in the field.

Nurse Practitioner (NP) / Advanced
Practice Registered Nurse (APRN)
- Nurse practitioners are licensed to do everything an LPN or RN does, plus in
most states they can write prescriptions and see patients without a doctor
present. A Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) is the minimum requirement to
start an NP program, and NPs graduate with a specialized degree of their choice
(pediatrics, family medicine, gerontology, etc.). NPs might work in a hospital or in a doctor’s
office seeing patients and making diagnoses. They also may work in clinics, managed care
organizations and hospitals. Some NPs even
have their own private practices.

In
anticipation of health care reform, the AACN (American Association of Colleges of Nursing) is working to require that all nurse
practitioners hold a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree. A DNP is designed to
make nurses even more independent to provide care without a doctor’s
supervision. According to an
editor at Nursing Link, “there are other reasons to get this relatively new degree. In the past, advancing in a nursing education
meant stepping away from the bedside. The further you climbed up the academic
ladder, the further you retreated from hands-on clinical care. But
increasingly, nurses and others are recognizing the value of having highly
educated nurses in clinical practice. That’s why the DNP was created.”

Overall, nursing
roles have made huge strides in recent years, with even bigger advances since
the new health care reform. The various type of nurse has changed, and the field
of nursing is rising to the occasion and proving to be a healthy career path
for employment - with no signs of slowing down any time soon!

And if you are considering pursuing a nursing degree, we invite you to find out more about Kaplan University's School of Nursing and explore our undergraduate and graduate degree offerings.

It is important to note that the nursing profession is a career path with expected growth and our nursing degrees are designed to strengthen your knowledge and prepare our students to advance their nursing careers. But Kaplan University cannot guarantee employment or career advancement. Several factors specific to a student’s or alumni’s backgrounds and actions, as well as economic and job conditions, affect employment. Also, keep in mind that national long-term projections covered in articles may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions, and do not guarantee actual job growth.

* Kaplan University cannot guarantee employment or career advancement.

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Kaplan University offers over 180 degree and certificate programs all available to military, veterans, and spouses of active duty members. In addition, several programs have been developed to complement specific military occupations or programs established by the military.

Open College at Kaplan University (OC@KU) offers individualized, affordable education that integrates technology and personalized service to help learners meet their career, academic, and personal goals.